Leather-stretching machine



(No Model.) -2 sheets-sheet' 1. M. H. COOK 8v J. HOUSTON. LEATHER STRETOHING MACHINE.

No. 546,089* Patented Sept. 10,1895.

W'nesses.-

ANDREW El-GRAHAM. PHUTO-LTTHUWASHINGTOMD E.

2 sheets-sheet 2. M. H. OOOK 8u J. HOUSTON.

LEATHER STRETOHING MACHINE.

,(N'o Model.)

AN DREW LGRAHAM. PHTULITND,WASNINGTDN` DS.

' NITE mames Ltrims.

MILTON H. COOK AND JOHN HOUSTON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

LEATHER-STRETCHING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 546,089, dated September 10, 189 5.

Applcll flled November 8, 1894. Serial No. 528,215- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, MILTON H. COOK and JOHN HOUSTON, citizens of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Leather- Stretching Machines; and we hereby declare the following specification and the drawings therewith to be a complete description of our improvements.

Our invention relates to stretching and setting tanned hides before they are cut into belts or other work subject to tension, so the latter will not by irregular stretching change its form when in use.

Our improvements consist in jointed clamps, or clamps in two parts, attached to the ends of the tanned hides to pull and stretch the same in varying degrees at the sides or in the middle independently and in mechanism to support andvoperate these clamps in a convenient and expeditious manner.

The object of our invention is to adapt the strain of the clamps to the extent the leather will yield at the sides, middle, or other portion of the tanned hides, so these will be stretched uniformly irrespective of the amount they yield, and when thus treated and dried there will not be inherent differences in the state of the leather. It has been the custom in preparing tanned hides for belts to slit them into two or more sections lengthwise, so these sections could be stretched independently and in proportion to the amount they would yield under strain. This distorted the edges by lateral contraction, also by inequalities of the leather, and caused loss by recutting and straightening the edges. This our invention avoids, as the hides can be stretched whole, and the tension on different parts, the sides, and middle can be regulated at'willT and as the nature of the leather may permit or demand.

Referring to the drawings, Figure lis a side elevation of a leather-stretchin g machine embodying our improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same machine. Figs. 3 and 4 show a side view and section of the clamps detached. Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the stretching-frames removed from the machines, showing the clamps as at first set. Fig. G is a plan view of the same stretching-frame after the hide has been stretched. Fig. 7 is a side view of part of the lifting-tackle to remove the stretching-frames. view of a clamp such as can be used instead of the through-bolt n.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the different figures of the drawings.

The main supporting-frame A is of the usual construction, arranged with a cross-shaft B and series of chain-pulleys C, attached to the top end rails of the machine, as seen in Figs. l and 2. The main frame A is open on top and adapted to receive the detachable stretching-frames D, which rest on ledges T at each end, also seen in Figs. l and 2. These stretching-frames D are composed of parallel bars a, cross end rails b, and diagonal braces c, the latter being provided to stiften the frame edgewise when it is being removed from the machine and handled.

The clamps E are composed of two parts F F2. (Shownenlarged in Figs. 3 and 4.) The ends of the hide Gr are passed between these clamps and screwed fast by bolts n through each end of the clamps, as seen in Figs. 5 and 6, a ledge and groove (shown at e, Fig. 4) being providedto prevent the hide from slipping.

' To avoid perforating or cutting the hide open, clamps such as are shown in Fig. 8, having a hinged member U, can be employed instead of the through-bolts n, the operation otherwise being the same.

The clamps E are pulled laterally by means lof chains H H2 H3 and H4 H5 H6, of which there are three at each end of the machine, as seen in Fig. 2. These chains are attached to the clamps E by means of pins that pass through the lugs m and are detachable by withdrawing the pins. The center chain H2 is attached to the inner ends of both clamps by double links, as seen at I, Fig. 2. On the inner sides of the clamps E are pawls J, meshing into metallic racks set on the bars a, as seen in Fig. 2, these pawls beingvpressed inward by springs f, so as to act automatically and hold the clamps E from receding if the Fig. 8 is a side ICO chains are loosened. The chains H H2 H3 pass over pulleys C at the right-hand end of the machine, and other similar chains over pulleys C at the left-hand end of the machine,

and are wound right and left on drumsor wheels K on the shaft B, as seen in Fig. 1.

On the end of the shaft B is a tangent wheel L, driven by a Worm-pinion M on the shaft B2, which is turned by the hand-wheel N, so that by turning this wheel N the three chains at each end of the machine and the clamps E are drawn uniformly, stretching the hide G, as `seen in Fig. 5. However, the leather at the sides O O, being softer and yielding more, requires separate strain, which is accomplished in the following manner: The hand-Wheel N is reversed, the chains slackened, and the two middle ones H2 and H5 are detached by means of a grab-hook P, that engages each alternate link of the chain. Then by again turning the hand-wheel N the strain falls on the chains H3 and H6, stretching the outer edges O of the hide G, the other or inner ends of the clamps being held by pawls J. If the edges O are unequal as to length, or one requires more stretching'than the other, then the chains are slackened and two are disconnected, leaving the third one to act on either side of the machine and on either of the sides O of the hide G. Thus it will be seen that the hide can be stretched all over uniformly, in the center only, or at either side independently; also, that by means of the grab-hook P engaging the links of the chains H2 and H5 at any point the relative positions of the outer and inner ends of the clamps E can be set to draw at iirst on the edges or sides of the hides, as may be desired. In other words, the length of the chains H2 and. H5-is adjustable relatively to the chains H', H2, H4, and HG, so as to control the position of the clamps E and the strain on the hide in various lines longitudinally. Instead of the double links I, the inner ends of the clamp-bars F2 can be hinged together so as to move coincidently; but the links I are preferable, as permitting independent action at each side of the center of the hide G by straining one or the other of the inner ends of the clamps E.

When the hides are stretched, the clamps E stand approximately as shown in Fig. 6, each held by the pawls J. When the process of stretching is completed, the wheel N is reversed, the drawing-chains are loosened and detached from the clamps E, and the frame D is lifted o, preferably by sling-chains Q, attached to the eyebolts R in the frame, as indicated in Fig. 7. These frames D when lifted are moved out of the way by means of thesling-tackle,orin other suitable manner,to a place for drying the hides. Another frame D is inserted, and so the operation goes on, limited only by the number of frames D provided for the machine. The tangent gearing, consisting of the Wheel L and screw-pinion M, prevents back motion when the hand-Wheel N .is released, so the machine remains locked at any point in respectto the chains as well as by the pawls J.

It will be understood that, while chains to operate the clampsE are specified and shown in the drawings, metallic or fibrous ropes can be employed in lieu of chains, the ends being provided with the required eyes and hooks. It will also be understood that, while we have described dual stretching devices and a machine having winding or drawing gearing at each end of the hide, the same result, but less conveniently, could be obtained by permitting the clamps E to remain stationary at one end of the frames D. In that case the hide would require to be slackened if the stationary clamps required adjustment.

Having thus explained the nature and `objects of our invention, also the manner of constructing and applying the same in practice, what We claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a leather-stretching machine, a main frame and removable stretching frames adapted thereto; a cross-winding shaft, with chains extending therefrom to the ends of the machine; stationary deflectin g pulleys to reverse or return the chains and clamps to hold and stretch the leather, in the manner substantially as described.

2. In a leather-stretching machine, a mainsupporting frame and removable stretching frames fitting thereon; tension chains or ropes at the middle and sides of the main frame; a Winding shaft, around which these chains pass, and a tangent wheel to revolve the winding shaft, in the manner substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. In a leather-stretching machine, a supporting main frame and detachable stretching frames adapted thereto; a winding shaft, with chains or ropes passing over pulleys at the end of the machine, and connected to clamps attached to the hides to be stretched, the clamps provided with spring pawls and racks at each end to prevent recession of the clamps and hide when the chains are slackened, in the manner substantially as described.

4. In a leather-stretching machine, a mainsupporting frame and detachable stretching frames, insertible and removable from the main frame; independent clamps for the two sides of the hide, moving on the detachable frame; spring pawls at both ends of the clamps and winding chains or ropes arranged to pull on both ends of both clamps, and at both ends of the machine, in the manner substantially as described.

5.. In a leather-stretching machine, removable frames provided with pairs of clamps ateach end of the frames, arranged with pawls and racks at each end of the four clamps, in the manner described; a main frame provided with winding gearing and chains or ropes to draw the clamp and stretch the hide at the middle and sides together or independently, in the manner substantially as described.

6. In a leather-stretching machine, a main frame and detachable stretching frames adapted thereto; winding gearing, with three IOO IIO

and at either end, by means of chains or ropes detachably connected to the clamps, and oper ated by winding gearing on the main frame, in the manner substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto affixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

MILTON H. COOK. JOHN HOUSTON.

Witnesses:

ALFRED A. ENQUIsT, WILSON D. BENT, Jr. 

